BUT... I didn't get what I deserve (Job 33:27)

I sinned,

BUT... I didn't get what I deserved.

  He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit,

 and I will live to enjoy the light.

  Job 33:27

BUT... to serve (Mark 10:45)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,

BUT... to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

Love, love, love, this verse.  I am blessed with the gift of serving others BUT if you find this a challenge remember today that even Jesus was called to serve others,.He washed the feet of His disciples.
Go out today and see how blessed you will become when you serve others.

Please comment and let me know how it goes.

BUT... always try to do good (1 Thes 5:15)

"See that no one pays back evil for evil,

BUT...

 always try to do good to each other and to all people."

 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Are you feeling like a victim today?
Let that go and go out and purposely try to do good by each person you see and meet.

BUT... sets it on a lampstand (Luke 8:16)

No one, when he has lit a lamp,

covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed,

BUT...

 sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

 Luke 8:16

Once you accept Jesus has your Savior your light is lit. Don't hide it with all your burdens and life stuff save that for your quiet time with Jesus. When you are out in the world let your light shine. Smile at someone today and see what happens.

BUT... you shall meditate in it day and night (Joshua1:8)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,

BUT you shall meditate in it day and night,

 that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

For then you will make your way prosperous,

 and then you will have good success.

Joshua 1:8

You see when we read God's word and think about it through out the day and do what we are lead to do THEN we can't help BUT be successful. Unfortunately we want to think of ourselves through out the day, do what we are lead to do and then wonder why God is not blessing us.

BUT to you who are listening (Proverbs 6:27-28)

 “But to you who are listening I say:

 Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Proverbs 6:27-28

Are you listening?

BUT...I do want you to experience the blessing of generosity (Philippians 4:15-17)

"You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I'll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give and take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out and not only once 

BUT twice. Not that I'm looking for handout, 

BUT I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity. 

Philippians 4:15-17 MSG

BUT... to you who are listening (Luke 6:28-29)

 “But to you who are listening I say

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you,

pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 6:28-29

Wow imagine if we would listen to what Jesus tells us. Start today, one moment at a time. Ask God for a sensitivity to His spirit to know how to respond. God and you become in control and not those who frustrate you.

 

 

 

BUT... I am well on my way (Phillipians 3:12)

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made.

BUT I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this,

BUT I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.

 I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

Phillipians 3:12-13

When you keep your eye on Jesus as your goal I find I have no choice to run in joy and peace.
Not only will I one day see my God who sent His Son and Jesus Him self who was will to take my penalty BUT I will spend eternity with Poppy and Crystal.

BUT... by everyword that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4)

BUT

He answered, “It is written, a Man shall not live by bread alone, 

  BUT

 by every word that comes from the mouth of God. ”

Matthew 4:4

I started a new devotional called the impact of 25 words and my second day this is the verse I received. 2 BUTS ! This verse is from when Satan test Jesus by telling Him to turn rocks into food since He had not eaten in 40 days.
 Jesus responds helps me remember that it is not about my fleshly needs
BUT I can survive on the promises of God.

BUT...few things are needed (Luke 10:38-42)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 

BUT Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 

“Martha, Martha,”the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

BUT few things are needed—or indeed only one.Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

I have been caught in this trap many times in life where I get caught up in the busyness of life and don't take time to STOP and spend time with my Lord or others He has laid on my heart. I praise God the older I get the easier it is for me to not worry about the stuff!

BUT... you've taken my hand (Psalms 73:21-24)

When I was under attack and bitter, totally consumed by envy,
 I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence
I'm still in your presence,

BUT you've taken my hand.

You wisely and tenderly lead me,

and then you bless me."

Psalms 73:21-24 MSG

 

this psalm talks about how no matter how low we may go we are still in God's presence and He will tenderly lead us. Our pastor this week used this as the foundation passage for the message
Choices of a Happy Heart. So if you find your self unhappy think about these points
* Choose FORGIVENESS instead of BITTERNESS
* Choose GRATEFULNESS instead of JEALOUSLY
*Choose GRACE instead of GUILT 

BUT... I do want you to experience the blessing (Philippians 4:16)

   Not that I'm looking for handouts

 BUT I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.

 Philippians  4:16

It truly is a blessing to give when your heart is right. Giving can sometimes be a touchy subject since money often can be someone's master. BUT what a joy giving is when the heart is right. The more we give the more I believe God blesses us. Try it today, Pray about what the Lord would want you to give, maybe it is just to pay for the persons food behind you in drive through.

BUT, as it is written (1 Corinthians 2:9)

 

 BUT, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”. . . .

1 Corinthians 2:9

 

You can't help BUT get excited over this verse.

BUT take some time today to sit back and try to imagine what God has prepared for you.

 I hope it brightens your day.

BUT...take the lower place (Luke 14:7-11)

So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 

BUT... when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11 NKJV)

I have always loved this verse. There is something about being willing to take a lower position and then being raised up then to think you are all that and find yourself being cut down.  This reminds me of my daughter's celebration of life service. The church was packed and to me everyone was valuable BUT as I  went around greeting people during the worship time I saw a friend that had loved and accepted Crystal. I took her by the hand and led  her to stand by me. This is where she belonged. As we were exiting I saw Crystal 's Neurologist standing in the very last row. BUT God knew she needed to be the first in line to greet us , it was such an honor that she took the time to come .  She didn't think because she was a doctor she should be seated in the best place BUT she humbly accepted any place.